Celebration of World Wetland Day 2006 on 2nd February 2006 & World Wetland
Week in Chilika Lagoon, a Ramsar site in India
The World Wetland Day 2006 was celebrated with active participation of the local
communities, NGOs, CBOs and schoolchildren in Chilika lagoon. This year with the
great initiatives from the local communities it was a weeklong celebration and was
termed as World Wetland Week by the local communities. The stakeholders from
different sectors of Chilika with great jubilation celebrated it from 2nd –9th February 2005
and coined the term World Wetland Week. To begin with, on 2nd February 2006, Chilika
Development Authority in collaboration with Pallishree and Wild Orissa, local NGOs and
Mahavir Pakshi Surksha Samiti, a local CBO and the local communities celebrated
World Wetland Day in Village Mangalajodi, situated along the western shoreline of
Chilika. With the initiative of Wild Orissa, a local NGO the local villagers who had
adopted bird poaching as their sole means of livelihood, have taken a vow to refrain from
bird poaching. More than 0.3 million migratory birds congregate along the marshy areas
near village Mangalajodi. The villagers with the initiatives from the local youths have
been protecting these migratory birds. To encourage this noble effort by the villagers,
CDA facilitated a community based eco-tourism in this village as a means of alternate
source of livelihood. To accomplish this Chilika Development Authority facilitated a
nature guide-training programme for the unemployed youth. Other infrastructures
developed by CDA to facilitate ecotourism at village Mangalajodi are construction of a
watchtower, tourist reception centre, nature trail, and small boat-landing center. The
unemployed youth of this village who were dreaded poachers earlier with a number of
wildlife offence cases pending against them changed their mind and constituted Mahavir
Pakshi Suraskha Samiti (MPSS), Mangalajodi. The members of MPSS took the lead for
celebration of WWD2006 in village Mangalajodi. The celebration commenced with a
boat rally organized by members of the Mahavir Pakhi Surksha Samiti at 0900hrs. The
unique feature of the boat rally was that 35 poachers turned nature guides took part in the
boat rally.
WWD2006 boat rally at Managaljodi
Watchtower and Boat landing Center developed by
CDA for promoting community based ecotourism at
Managaljodi
World Wetland Day 2006
A meeting in the village at 1100hrs followed the boat rally. The villagers as well as the
schoolchildren from nearby villages participated in the meeting. Prior to this debate,
essay and quiz competition was organised in six schools located in and around the village
Mangalajodi with the theme “Wetland is the livelihood provider”. Nine students were
felicitated for their outstanding performance in the above competitions.
WWD2006 meeting at village Mangalajodi
Prize for best performance in debate competition
The President of the village committee, the fishermen from the village, the President of
MPSS spoke on the need for conservation of Chilika lake and the wetland as a whole. At
the end of the meeting as a cultural programme, (a street play) based on the wetland
conservation (Daskathia) was presented by the local artists.
Trophy in recognition of outstanding services by MPSS, Mangalajodi for
conservation of migratory birds
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World Wetland Day 2006
In the afternoon, World Wetland Day 2006 was celebrated in the village Sipakuda located
along the eastern shore of the Chilika lake by Chilika Development Authority in
collaboration with Baba Chaubar Dev Motor Boat Association, Sipakuda, PREPARE a
NGO, students from village Sipakuda and Banamalipur and the local fishermen. The
local fishermen have adopted community-based ecotourism as an alternate source of
livelihood. To facilitate this CDA have constructed a boat-landing center at village
Sipakuda.
Village Parikrama by School Children
WWD2006 rally at village Sipakuda
The celebration commenced with village parikrama (rally around the village) by the
schoolchildren with chanting slogans for conservation of Chilika Lake and its
biodiversity. They carried a number of placards with message on conservation of the
wetland. A programme of mangrove plantation followed this. The villagers have raised
mangrove plantation in the mud flats adjourning to their village over an area of 10 ha in
collaboration with PREPARE.
Ceremonial Mangrove Plantation
Participatory Mangrove Plantation
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World Wetland Day 2006
A meeting at 1800hrs attended by more than 1000 local fishers, village youths, and
schoolchildren followed this. The natural leaders from the village spoke on the need for
conservation of the lake resources for sustainable livelihood. Experts on mangrove from
PREPARE, a national NGO spoke on the values and function of mangroves. The Chief
Executive, CDA spoke on the significance of the World Wetland Day, Ramsar
Convention and the significance of wetland for sustaining the livelihood of local
community. The students who had outperformed in the debate, essay and painting
competition were felicitated. Both the electronic and print media covered the event.
Prize for excellence in all round performance
WWD2006 Celebration at Sipakuda
On 5th February 2006 CCCL (Campaign for Conservation of Chilika lagoon) a federation
of NGOs observed the World Wetland Week at village Karimpur located in the
Northwestern part of Chilika. More than 150 natural leaders from 8 villages participated
and they deliberated on the value and functions of the wetlands. The members of CCCL
facilitated the discussion and explained to the participants about the importance of World
Wetland Day, Ramsar Convention and role of stakeholders for wise-use of the natural
resources of wetland. This was followed by a group discussion on few vital issues like
sustainable fishery, protection of migratory birds and protection of Irrawaddy dolphins .
One of the significant of the outcome of this meeting was the constitution of a stake
holder forum and they resolved that they would adopt responsible fishery practices and
protect the migratory birds.
On 8th February 2006 the World Wetland Week was celebrated in the premises of
Kalupada High School located in the Central Sector of the Chilika lagoon. 1053 students,
36 schoolteachers from 4 schools participated in the event. The schoolteacher organised
essay, debate and painting competition amongst the school children prior to the event.
Students at Kalupadaghat WWW2006
celebration
Celebration of World Wetland Week 2006 on
8th February 2006 at Kalupadaghat
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World Wetland Day 2006
The theme of the competition was “conservation and wise use of wetland resources of
Chilika lagoon.” The meeting was presided over by Mr.Raghu Rai, a senior citizen and
an ex legislator of the locality. With his vast experience he portrayed the cultural values
of Chilika and explained to the students about their relevance for conservation and wise
use of chilika lagoon. It was a great learning for the students. The students also spoke
about their impression and the need for the conservation of the natural resources of the
lagoon, which was well appreciated by all.
Mr. Rai the veteran leader of the locality addressing the students
A thematic cultural programme of high standard was presented by the local school
children , on conservation of the Chilika lagoon. 24 students were commended for their
outstanding performance in the essay, debate and painting competitions, and prizes were
awarded to them.
Cultural programme by the students during the celebration of WWW2006
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World Wetland Day 2006
The valedictory function of World Wetland Week was on 9th February 2006 at
Chandraput located at the southern sector of Chilika. 800 students, 32 teachers from 5
local schools along with the local communities participated in the event. This was
preceded by a debate, essay and painting competition amongst the school children from
the nearby schools. The theme of the competition was “Wetland for livelihood”.
Students studying the specimens in WRTC
Valedictory Function of WWW2006
The scientists of Wetland Research Center explained the students about the, bio-resources
of Chilika, water quality monitoring and about the hydrological setup of Chilika. At the
beginning the students were divided into small groups and they visited the different
sections of Wetland Research and Training Center (WRTC) of Chilika Development
Authority located at Chandraput.
This was followed by an interactive session in which the school children as well as the
teachers participated. This was followed by a plenary in which a series of speakers
including the elderly persons from the nearby village highlighted various aspects of
importance of wetland and its role in sustaining livelihoods of local communities.
Distribution of Prize to the winners
Plenary session
Mr. D.P.Dash, of Pallishree, a local NGO, spoke on the importance of environmental
education and awareness for conservation of wetland and the role of schoolchildren. Mr.
Bijaya Kumar Tripathy, Head Master, Chilika high school, Barakul, highlighted the role
of Ramsar Convention for conservation of wetlands world over. Mr.Debendranath
Sarangi, head master, Barakul primary center school, aptly explained how cited the old
literature and praised the authors for visualizing many relevant issues and through their
outstanding talent they could bring it to the imagination of the local communities.
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World Wetland Day 2006
Daskathia (Street play) by local artists
Ms. Satyabhama Dei, head mistress of Chandraput Prakalpa U.P.school, addressed the
students as the future citizens and the fore runners to shoulder the responsibility of
conservation of the natural resources of the lagoon. She encouraged the girls students to
take proactive role for conservation of Chilika lagoon. Mr. Bijaya Kumar Rana, head
master, Chilika nodal U.P.school, Injanpur, spoke on the amazing bio-diversity of Chilika
lagoon. Mr. S.K. Pant, IFS, Additional Chief Executive of Chilika Development
Authority deliberated on the role and responsibilities of stakeholders particularly children
for conservation and wise use of lagoon resources. At the end of the function 30
meritorious students were honored with prizes. At the end, Daskathia (street play) on
conservation of chilika lagoon was performed by the local artists.
With this, the weeklong celebration of World Wetland Week 2006 in Chilika came to an end.
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